Feeding value of pastures for horses.

The research article delves into the evaluation of pastures as a feed source for horses, the significance of different types of grasses, and the challenges encountered in assessing their nutritive value. It also discusses the health benefits and risks associated with horses’ grazing habits.

Feeding Value of Pastures for Different Horse Types

• The research looks at the value of fresh pastures as food for horses. It informs that the value can be identified through an animal’s performance or productivity. This is particularly feasible for growing and lacting horses.
• However, determining the feeding value becomes more complex for adult breeding, non-breeding horses, and young/adult sport horses. The definition of feeding value itself and how to measure it becomes problematic for these categories.

Lack of Information and Knowledge Gap

• The research points out a significant lack of published data on the feeding value of different pastures and forage grazed by horses, both globally and specifically in New Zealand.
• The information available suggests that perennial ryegrass-based pastures in New Zealand provide high feeding value to young growing horses.
• Interestingly, the article shows that growth rates of Thoroughbred horses fed only on pasture in New Zealand are equivalent to those reported in the Northern Hemisphere, where grain-based supplements are commonly added.

Challenges and Future Research

• One of the biggest challenges highlighted is the difficulty of determining the amount of feed intake by grazing horses, especially due to the lack of knowledge about the digestibility and utility of digested nutrients.
• Other lesser-known areas include the relative bioavailability of macro- and micro-minerals in pastures which is crucial to understand their nutritive value.
• The study suggests that future research should focus on determining the effects of herbage allowance, grazing behavior, and pasture species preferences on the voluntary feed intake by horses.

Health Implications

• Horses that graze on pastures are less prone to nutrition-related disorders and exhibit less stereotypic behavior compared to those that don’t.
• The research also points out that pasture grazed horses tend to have more freedom for natural behaviors such as social interaction and exercise.
• However it also highlights that grazing on pastures can lead to certain health risks, notably parasitism and diseases related to pasture-associated toxins.